Eating Mediterranean-style food can cut the chances of heart attacks or
strokes for older people at high risk of either by 30 per cent, according to
one of the most in-depth studies of the diet.

Scientists behind the study by the University of Barcelona believe that a diet
of fish, chicken, fruit and vegetables is “better than a drug” because it
does not have harmful side-effects — cholesterol-lowering statins can cause
problems such as muscle cramps.

Over five years researchers looked at about 7,500 people aged between 55 and
80, splitting them into three groups — two groups ate Mediterranean-style
food, with